The BMA UK resident doctors committee welcomed the Federation of Royal College of Physicians to independently review the MRCP(UK) part 2 exam error earlier this year.
Its publication comes at a time of continued exam errors across specialties and we hope all postgraduate medical exam bodies learn from the organisational failings Professor John McLachlan identified.
The MRCP(UK) Part 2 error caused irreversible harm to doctors’ lives, careers and wellbeing, including for a period threatening their immigration status. While we recognise there are valuable recommendations on necessary organisation and technical improvements, RDC is disappointed the report failed to criticise the decision to withdraw applicants for higher specialty training from the interview process.
The report also notes posts were held to be available for round three in the geographies that affected applicants had applied for. We have heard from our members that this has not happened, with many doctors now having to uproot their lives and relocate as a result of this error.
This is completely unacceptable and we’re incredibly disappointed that the colleges and NHS bodies have failed to deliver on their commitments to affected candidates.
It is vital the issues identified in the report are acted upon immediately to ensure that affected candidates are supported and that future candidates are not subject to the same mistakes. To enable this, the Federation of the Royal Colleges of Physicians must:
– Immediately implement the report’s recommendations, particularly with regard to independent quality assurance oversight, proper resourcing and a modernised exam systems
– Provide fair financial compensation to affected candidates to account for the wide-ranging and irreversible ramifications this error has had on their lives
– Allow for significant resident doctor representation at every level of future exam governance and quality assurance and ensure the BMA is consulted on any changes to exam processes or governance
– Work with relevant stakeholders, including the GMC, to consider additional safeguards to protect doctors' wellbeing and career progression should such an exam error occur in the future, such as alternative assessment mechanisms.
The faith of resident doctors in the training system is at an all-time low and persistent errors with exams and recruitment continues to undermine this confidence. Only through immediate, targeted action can this confidence begin to be restored.
Arjan Singh and Shivam Sharma are deputy co-chairs of the UKRDC with the education and training portfolio